I've been trying to work on my seven OBBA II blocks at least 2 or 3 hours
every day (one at a time!), and today I headed back out to Utica 3, 59C6SW.
This is an interesting mix of rolling hills, occasional heavily wooded
areas, streams with riparian habitat and heavily cultivated agricultural
land.  Today, just southwest of the intersection of Chatham Road and
Chestnut Hills Road, I stopped for a while near an unmowed pasture field.  I
was watching some northern flickers and Baltimore orioles mainly, in the
wooded area adjacent to the field, when I thought I heard a bobwhite.  I
spent at least 20 minutes scanning the field and turned up two male
bobolinks, and finally, a single bobwhite on the wing briefly.  The
bobolinks were a stunning surprise - not what one would expect to find in
Licking Co.  I did not, however, hear or see any interesting grassland
sparrows in that long-grass field.  I hope to discover who the owner is, and
request permission to walk the field.  Right now, both the bobolinks and
bobwhite are OS (possible nesters), and I'd like to get a little better look
at them to confirm.  By the way, the field was full of eastern meadowlarks,
as well, but I didn't see many red-winged blackbirds, which is the bird that
usually dominates any tall grass areas I have birded recently.



However, I now have 82 species on my atlas lists, which I think is pretty
good considering my blocks represent urban and agricultural areas, and there
are no public access areas (parks or wildlife areas) or lakes in any of my
blocks.  Also, I just signed up for these blocks after the blockbusting
weekend of June 8-10, and am still getting to know the roads and interesting
areas.



For those of you who haven't considered atlasing, please do.  It doesn't
require expert skills - if it did, I wouldn't qualify.  It does require
patience, and a willingness "to boldly go where no man", etc, etc. - but
isn't that what birders do?



Bill Whan teased me a little when he suggested that as soon as I confirmed
northern cardinals in every block, I could get down to the serious work.
Well, I've only confirmed the cardinal in one block.  Care to guess what
bird will probably be the first to be confirmed in all seven blocks?  Right
now, it looks like Baltimore oriole!  I can't say that I've seen nests in
every block, but the fledglings are all out and begging for food.  Keep your
eye on them, and soon here comes mom or pop, carrying food!  CY = confirmed!
Without a doubt, that is the easiest way to confirm nesting.



In my county, every day is a great birding day!  May each of you experience
the same joy where you live.



Margaret Bowman

Licking Co., OH






______________________________________________________________________

Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.

You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]